In the quiet town of Wise, Virginia, a young woman's life was tragically cut short in a violent act that stemmed from a past relationship. Kristina Marie Padilla, a 21-year-old female, was killed on September 18, 2014. A graduate of Appalachia High School's class of 2011, she was working as part of the communications team at Sykes in Wise at the time of her death.
The events that led to her untimely demise unfolded at a storage facility in Wise. There, she was confronted by her ex-boyfriend, 27-year-old Matthew Wesley Tate. The confrontation escalated horrifically as Tate shot Kristina multiple times. Despite her attempts to flee, Tate pursued her and continued to fire, ultimately ending her life.
Following the fatal shooting, Matthew Wesley Tate was apprehended by law enforcement and faced a charge of first-degree murder. The legal process that ensued saw Tate eventually confess to the murder of his former girlfriend. In April of 2018, a Circuit Court judge sentenced him to 43 years in prison for the crime. During the trial, the Commonwealth's Attorney noted Tate's stoic and unrepentant demeanor.
